Daniel Ostlie, MD

Daniel Ostlie, MD, is the surgeon-in-chief and senior vice president for surgical services at Cincinnati Children’s, a nonprofit, comprehensive pediatric health system. As a leader in research, education, patient care, advocacy and innovation, Cincinnati Children’s is ranked #1 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 list of best children’s hospitals in the nation and is the #2 recipient of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health. In this role, he oversees 100 surgeons across nine divisions with the Department of Surgery. He also plans, directs, implements and coordinates technical and clinical operations for surgical services, including perioperative services, and provides leadership in strategic planning for Cincinnati Children’s.

Ostlie received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota and his medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. He completed his residency in general surgery at Mayo Clinic Arizona from 1995 to 2000, during which time he also spent one year as a research fellow at Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK. After general surgery residency, he completed his pediatric surgery fellowship and surgical critical care fellowship at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO. He joined the faculty there upon completion of his training and during his 12 years with the institution, he rose through numerous leadership roles including vice chair of the Department of Surgery and program director of both the Pediatric Surgery Residency and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship.

Prior to joining Cincinnati Children’s, Ostlie served as surgeon-in-chief and chair of surgery at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and surgeon-in-chief at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, WI.

Ostlie remains clinically active with special interest in minimally invasive surgery, chest wall abnormalities, and foregut/esophageal surgery. He continues his academic focus primarily in outcomes research. He has been instrumental in the establishment of two multi-institutional consortia focusing on the development of research to expand the knowledge surrounding rare pediatric surgical conditions. He has authored more than 225 peer-reviewed publications, 20 book chapters, and is the editor of two books. He has served as the Pediatric Editor of the Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques and is the current editor of Seminars in Pediatric Surgery.